Perforating device for deflating cans



Jan. 10,1967 M. KAMLA 3,296,696

FERFORATINU DEVICE FOR DEFLATING CANS Filed June 28. 1965 Merlin Komlo BY ,Uaii Opunx;

ATTURKE United States Patent 3,296,696 PERFORATING DEVICE FOR DEFLATING CANS Merlin Kamla, Arriba, Colo. 80804 Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,266 5 Claims. (Cl. 3016) The present invention relates to pliers-like puncturing tools, and is more particularly concerned with a simple, but highly efficient, tool adapted to be used to deflate empty aerosol cans or containers to permit safe disposal of the containers.

An ever increasing number of products are presently being packaged and distributed in aerosol cans. Such cans are sealed, and normally contain a product to be dispensed as well as a propellant fluid or gas arranged to effect dispensing of the product via an appropriate nozzle when a nozzle is actuated. The propellant substance is normally placed in the can under pressure; and after a product has been completely dispensed, and the can is otherwise considered empty, it is customary for some of the propellant material to remain in the can. Even when the nozzle of the can is actuated in an effort to commpletely void the can of all residual propellant, after dispensing has been completed, some propellant may still remain. Moreover, even if all the propellant should be dispensed, the can nevertheless remains sealed at the time of its disposal. This sealed nature of an empty aerosol can, whether it contains residual propellant or not, makes it somewhat hazardous to effect easy disposal of the can. More particularly, it is customary for trash to be incinerated; and when an empty aerosol can is subjected to the heat of an incinerator, an explosion may occur. The disposing of empty aerosol cans must, therefore, be effected by some means other than incineration; or, in the alternative, extreme care must be taken to eliminate the possibility of personal injury when a quantity of trash, including empty aerosol cans, are placed in an incinerator.

The present invention, recognizing these characteristic dangers of empty aerosol can disposal, is concerned with a tool which is adapted to permit empty aerosol cans to be vented or punctured prior to disposal and/ or incineration thereof, so as to avoid the dangers described above. In this respect, it is recognized that various forms of puncturing tools have been suggested heretofore; but, for the most part, these prior tools have been relatively complex, and have been so costly that they do not lend themselves to wide-spread adoption and use for a purpose such as venting an empty aerosol can. Accordingly, the present invention, recognizing this further aspect of prior puncturing tools, is especially concerned with the provision of a tool which is so simple and inexpensive that it may be purchased by housewives as a kitchen accessory, to permit wide-scale venting of empty aerosol cans.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a simple, but highly efiicient, puncturing tool adapted to relieve the pressure in an aerosol can or container of any commercially available size, to make the can or container safe for disposal.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a puncturing tool which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which is substantially fool-proof in operation; and is more particularly directed toward the provision of a reliable puncturing tool which is far less complicated than has been the case With puncturing tools suggested heretofore.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel household accessory adapted to be used by housewives to deflate empty aerosol cans so as to reduce the dangers normally attendant to the disposal of such cans.

In providing for the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention contemplates the provision of a tool having an action similar to a pair of pliers or scissors. The tool itself comprises a pair of iron, steel, or other metallic straps which are cross-linked to one another by an appropriate pivot structure such as a rivet. Portions of each of these straps are twisted through substantially to form a pair of opposing jaws hav- 'ing flat surfaces facing one another; and said jaws are further bent into arcuate shapes so as to adapt the jaws to embrace opposed sides of an aerosol can. The curvatures of the two jaws, or at least the curvature of one of said jaws, is effected on a radius substantially larger than the radius of any commercially available aerosol can, whereby the jaws may firmly engage and fit the sides of any size can presently available commercially simply by spreading the handles of the tool apart by an appropriate amount; and, in this respect, it will be seen that the only adjustment needed to fit the tool to any can is a spreading adjustment of the tool handles. One of the jaws is provided with a tapered punch, the point of which faces the opposing jaw; and this punch is adapted to penetrate the side wall 10f a can being deflated when the tool handles are manually squeezed together about the aforementioned pivot.

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction, and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tool of the present invention illustrating how it may be used in conjunction with an aerosol can or container (shown in dotted line); and

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view of my improved tool.

Referring now to the drawings, like numerals of which refer to like parts throughout, it will be seen that a puncturing tool constructed in accordance with the present invention, and for the purposes described, may comprise a pair of handles formed by fiat metal straps 10 and 11 which are disposed in crossed overlapping relation to one another with their flat sides in plane parallel substantially contiguous relation. Straps 10 and 11 may comprise stampings, extrusions, etc. The two straps 10 and 11 are pivoted to one another at 12 by means such as a rivet; and said straps are then bent, at positions beyond pivot point 12, into a pair of opposing arcuate jaws.

More particularly, the strap 10 is twisted through substantially 90 at a location 13 so that the plane of the strap above pivot point 12 is substantially orthogonal to the plane of said strap ltl below pivot 12. The said upper portion of strap 10 is then bent into a smoothly curved arcuate jaw 14 adapted to conform to the outside curvature of the side of an aerosol can such as 15 (see FIGURE 1). The strap 11 is also twisted at a location 16 above pivot point 12 through substantially 90 to provide a further jaw 17; and as is depicted in the drawings, the jaw 17 is smoothly curved in a direction opposite to that .of jaw 14. The curvatures and configurations of jaws 14 and 17 are accordingly such that the inner curved planar surfaces of said two jaws are in opposing relation to one another, whereby said two jaws are adapted to embrace the opposite curved sides of an aerosol can.

A tapered punch member 18, which may be conical, is permanently affixed to the inner curved planar surface of jaw 17 at a point displaced from the free end or nose of said jaw 17. The point of punch member 18 faces an intermediate portion of the inner curved planar surface of jaw 14. Punch member 18 can have an integral rivet end 19 which is attached to the jaw 17 via an appropriate aperture provided in said jaw 17. In the alternative, punch member 18 may be afiixed by other means, e.g., welding. Indeed, it will be appreciated that punch member 18 may comprise an integral portion of jaw 17 if the strap 11 is stamped from a piece of metal in a pattern which includes punch member 18 as a portion of the stamping; whcreafter, of course, the stamping is twisted in the manner described.

The radii of curvature, and the respective positioning, of the two jaws 14 and 17 differ from one another. More particularly, the inner curved planar surface of jaw 14 preferably define a radius of curvature which is less than that of the jaw 17. Punch member 18 is attached to the larger radius jaw 17, and points toward the lesser radius jaw 14. This disposition of punch member 18, and the difierences in the radii of curvature of the two jaws, adapts the jaws and punch member to better engage a wide variety of can sizes without slipping. More particularly, the jaw 14 may embrace the side of a can substantially along the entire interior curved surface of said jaw, if the radius of the can conforms to the interior radius of the curvature of jaw 14. If the radius of curvature of the can exceeds that of jaw 14, the jaw may grasp the sides of the can at a pair of spaced points comprising, for example, the nose 20 of jaw 14 and the root 21 of said curved jaw. In the alternative, if the radius of the can being vented is less than that of the jaw 14, the jaw 14 will engage the side of the can at a central jaw location, such as 22. The opposite considerations hold with respect to jaw 17, which has a radius of curvature greater than that of jaw 14. Thus, even in those circumstances where jaw 14 tends to engage one side of an aerosol can at a pair of spaced points such as 2i) and 21, the greater radius of curvature of jaw 17 will tend to embrace the opposite side of the can over a greater area. The different radii of curvature of the two jaws thus causes the jaws to firmly engage the opposing sides of cans over a wide range of can sizes without the need of any special adjustments on the tool.

The curvature of jaws 17, and its extent of curvature, is preferably such that the nose 23 of jaw 17 is disposed along a line 24 passing through the pivot point 12 of the tool generally along the direction of elongation of strap 11 below said pivot point. Jaw 14 is bent outwardly to a greater extent than jaw 17, i.e., its nose 20 is positioned along a line 25 passing through the pivot point 12, and defining an acute angle below pivot point 12 with respect to the direction of extension of strap 10. The angle between lines 24 and 25 is, therefore, greater than the angle between the straps and 11 below pivot point 12 at all positions of straps 10 and 11.

In practice, the tool of the present invention can be manufactured at very low cost and can be used in the home, and stored in a drawer. The tool has no movable parts other than the cross linked straps themselves, wherefore it is not subject to breakage, or to any significant problems of wear or maintenance during extended use. In use, the opposing jaws 14 and 17 are positioned adjacent opposite sides of an empty aerosol can (see FIGURE 1), whereafter the handles 10 and 11 are manually squeezed toward one another thereby to cause punch member 18 to penetrate the side wall of the can. The extent of penetration is limited by the inner fiat arcuate surface of jaw 17, whereby a clean vent hole is quickly made with out crushing or deforming the remainder of the can wall. In using the tool, it is preferable that the jaws 14 and 17 be located, relative to the can, so as to embrace the sides of the can and perforate the can near its top, so that if there are any contents left in the can, they will not spew out. When the side wall of the can is perforated by the tool, the pressure that is left in the can or container will be relieved, making the can safe for disposal. The tool will fit any size of can presently available on the market, without the need of any special adjustments. In addition, after the can has been perforated by the tool described, it can be disposed of in any desired way, including by incineration, without any danger to the person disposing of the can.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art. It must, therefore, be understood that the foregoing description is meant to be illustrative only, and should not be considered limitative of my invention; and all variations and modifications as are in accord withe th principles described are meant to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool for use in venting an empty aerosol can comprising a pair of flat metallic straps pivoted to one another at a pivot point located intermediate the opposing ends of said straps, said flat straps being positioned in substantially contiguous plane parallel relation to one another at and to one side of said pivot point thereby to form a pair of flat handles adapted to be moved toward and away from one another about said pivot point, said flat straps each being twisted through substantially on the opposite side of said pivot point to define a pair of integral jaws having interior planar surfaces positioned in relatively widely spaced facing relation to one another, each of said jaws being smoothly curved with the directions of curvature of said two jaws being opposite to one another, whereby said curved interior planar jaw surfaces are adapted to embrace opposite sides of an aerosol can to be deflated, and a tapered punch member on the interior curved planar surface of one of said jaws at a location spaced from the free end of said jaw toward said pivot point, said punch member haivng a perforating point facing the interior curved planar surface of the opposite jaw.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the radii of curvature of said two jaws differ from one another.

3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the free ends of said jaws are so located that lines passing between said free ends and said pivot point subtend an angle greater than the angle between said straps on the opposite side of said pivot point.

4. A tool for venting an empty aerosol can comprising a pair of strap members, each of said strap members defining an elongated substantially straight flat section from one end thereof to a predetermined point, each of said strap members being twisted through substantially 90 at a location beyond said predetermined point and being smoothly curved beyond said point to define an integral jaw having a curved planar jaw surface the plane of which is disposed at substantially right angles to the plane of said substantially straight fiat section of said strap, said straps being pivotally connected to one another at a point located on their repective substantially straight flat sections, said point of pivotal connection being along an axis transverse to the planes of said straight flat sections and substantially parallel to the planes of said curved planar jaw surfaces thereby to form a pliers-like tool having handle portions which are substantially in plane parallel relation to one another and having integral oppositely curved planar jaw surfaces which are in facing relation to one another in planes disposed substantially 90 to the planes of said handle portions, and a punch member extending outwardly from the inner curved planar surface of at least one of said jaws in facing relation to an intermediate portion of the inner curved planar surface of the other of said jaws.

5. A pliers-type tool for puncturing the side of a cylindrical can, comprising a pair of flat strap members, each of said strap members having a handle portion comprising an elongated fiat section extending from one end of said strap member to a point spaced from the other end of said strap member, each of said strap members having an integral jaw portion formed by twisting the portion of said fiat strap member located between said point and said other end thereof through substantially 90, each of said jaw portions being smoothly curved to define an integral jaw having a curved planar jaw surface the plane of which is disposed at substantially right angles to the plane of its associated handle portion, the radii of curvature of said pair of jaw surfaces differing from one another, means pivotally connecting said strap members to one another at a pivot point extending along an axis transverse to the planes of said handle portions and substantially parallel to the planes of said curved planar jaw surfaces to form a pliers-like tool having integral oppositely curved planar jaw surfaces disposed in facing relation to one another, and a tapered punch member extending outwardly from the inner curved planar surface of the larger radius one of said jaws in facing relation to an intermediate portion of the inner curved planar surface of the smaller radius one of said jaws.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1951 Canada. 5/ 1951 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOOL FOR USE IN VENTING AN EMPTY AEROSOL CAN COMPRISING A PAIR OF FLAT METALLIC STRAPS PIVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER AT A PIVOT POINT LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE OPPOSING ENDS OF SAID STRAPS, SAID FLAT STRAPS BEING POSITIONED IN SUBSTANTIALLY CONTIGUOUS PLANE PARALLEL RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER AT AND TO ONE SIDE OF SAID PIVOT POINT THEREBY TO FORM A PAIR OF FLAT HANDLES ADAPTED TO BE MOVED TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER ABOUT SAID PIVOT POINT, SAID FLAT STRAPS EACH BEING TWISTED THROUGH SUBSTANTIALLY 90* ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PIVOT POINT TO DEFINE A PAIR OF INTEGRAL JAWS HAVING INTERIOR PLANAR SURFACES POSITIONED IN RELATIVELY WIDELY SPACED FACING RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, EACH OF SAID JAWS BEING SMOOTHLY CURVED WITH THE DIRECTIONS OF CURVATURE OF SAID TWO JAWS BEING OPPOSITE TO ONE ANOTHER, WHEREBY SAID CURVED INTERIOR PLANAR JAW SURFACES ARE ADAPTED TO EMBRACE OPPOSITE SIDES OF AN AEROSOL CAN TO BE DEFLATED, AND A TAPERED PUNCH MEMBER ON THE INTERIOR CURVED PLANAR SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID JAWS AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM THE FREE END OF SAID JAW TOWARD SAID PIVOT POINT, SAID PUNCH MEMBER HAVING A PERFORATING POINT FACING THE INTERIOR CURVED PLANAR SURFACE OF THE OPPOSITE JAW. 